You might be shocked ? shocked! ? to learn that many of the people offering public comment to N.C. House budget writers this evening are representing interests that rely heavily on particular programs.
Even if no lobbyists, paid advocates, or interest-group volunteers took part in the process, the value of the comments is bound to be limited. As House Minority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, said earlier today:
The problem is we’ve got 9 million people, and 20 or 30 people will get a chance to speak tonight. That’s not representative of anything. It’s just the people who happen to be able to get to the mic.
